Let me ask you
Out of all your female friends/family aged 14-45 who are of childbearing age :
- Do you know anyone who suffers with depression…maybe yourself, your sister or a friend??
- Does one of the mums at school/work suffer with migraines??
- Maybe a niece, cousin, auntie is diagnosed with Bipolar, mood swings??
- A friend may have MS and is needing pain relief??
- A 14-16year old girl may have Epilepsy??
Whatever the diagnosis of illness, at some point they may need to be medicated.
The majority of the time, they could be diagnosed with the medications below which are Anti Convulsant Medications but also help control other health issues:
- Epilim – Sodium Valproate
- Tegratol – Carbamazipine
- Epinuitin – Phenytoin
- Lamotrigine
- Topiramate
- Leviteracetem
- Phenobarbitone
Scenario
So, the illness diagnosed is under control and it is decided that the lady in question wants to conceive a baby, or maybe a baby has been conceived accidently.
Whatever the situation, pregnancy is determined .
With this she goes to her GP/ Midwife who does a full examination.
Hopefully her medication will be discussed with the health professional.
This should be a time to enjoy the joys of pregnancy. To carry on planning and daydreaming of the future baby that will soon arrive.
Dilemma
For the growing foetus, the first trimester is the most important part of the pregnancy.
However she has been on this medication for the illness she was diagnosed for.
The medications prescribed have ALREADY passed through the placenta into the growing baby.
This is the simple explanation why FACS Syndrome is on the rise, and having such a devastating effect on the child and also their families.
Symptoms of FACS Syndrome are:
- Premature Birth
- Small fingernail
- Spina Bifida / Cerebral Palsy
- Limb defects
- Joint Laxity
- Characteristical facial features
- Delay in reaching milestones
- Gross and fine motor skills
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders
- Speech and Language Delay
- Attention and memory difficulty
- Vision problems
- Incontinence
- Inguinal Hernia
- Hypospadias
Our medical team have figures that suggest in 2010, over 21k women were taking Sodium Valproate for Epilepsy, depression, migraine etc. That is just one medication, it doesn’t begin to cover the the others on the list.
This is just how big FACS Syndrome is and as to how many children are affected.
As a mum with epilepsy, I was never told of the effects these medications have until I was pregnant with my 5th child.
All my children are now diagnosed with this condition and have varying degrees of FACS.
When pregnant and in contact with so many health professional, how can this still happen? Or more importantly, how can it be allowed to happen?
Why are the medical world not warning all patients who are prescribed these medicines the impact it will have on the baby and also the parents.
If you are concerned in any way, please do get in touch with us.
However DO NOT stop taking your medication until you have consulted a Doctor.
INFACT 